Engine.



PATENTED JUNE 5, 1906.

J. N. CUMMINGS.

ENGINE.

APPLIGATION FILED APR. 17, 1905.

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J. N. CUMMINGS.

ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED APRJl'I, 1905.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES NEWVTIN CUMMINGS, QF SUMMERVILLE, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-SIXTHTO H. N. HORTON AND ONE-SIXTH TO F. M. SCHLAPBACH, OF GEORGIA, ANDONE-SIXTH TO X. N. DAVID, OF CEDARTOWN,

GEORGIA.

ENGINE.

Patented June 5, 1906.

Application filed April 1'7, 1905- Serial No. 256.071.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES NEWTIN CUM- MINGS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Summerville, in the county of Chattooga and State ofGeorgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Engines;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to compound engines; and its object is to provide aplurality of cylinders arranged in pairs, each cylinder containingoppositely-movable pistons, whereby steam admitted between pistons inthe two cylinders will alternately force said pistons apart.

Another object is to provide novel means for transmitting motion fromthe pairs of pistons to the drive-wheel of the engine.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of apair of cylinders each of which contains two pistons adapted to move inopposite directions simultaneously. The pistons of the two cylinders areconnected in pairs, so that when moving apart in one cylinder they willbe forced together in the other cylinder, and a novel arrangement ofpower-transmitting devices is employed for causing the rotation of thedrive-wheels of the engine when the pistons are actuated.

The invention also consists of valve-gearing for alternately directingsteam or other motive fluid into the pistons of the cylinders. An escapedevice is connected to the heads of the cylinders to prevent theformation of vacuums or cushions, and this escape device is also adaptedin cases of emergency to be utilized for directing steam into thecylinders.

The invention also consists of the further novel constructions andcombinations of parts hereinafter more fully described, and pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown the preferred form of myinvention.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of my improvement connectedto a locomotive, which has been illustrated by dotted lines. Fig. 2 isan enlarged section through the cylinders, and Fig. 3 is a diarammatical view showing by full and dotted ines the positions assumed bythe power-transmitting devices.

Referring to the fi ures by numerals of reference, 1. and 2 are low andhigh pressure cylinders, respectively, which preferably aline and havetheir adjoining heads 3 formed with integral arms 4, to which aresecured parallel guides 5. Slidably mounted on these guides is across-head 6, from which piston-rods 7 and 8 extend in opposite directions. The rod 7 is provided with a piston 9, which works withincylinder 1, while rod 8 has a piston within the cylinder 2. The rods 7and 8 are of such length that when the cross-head 6 reaches the limit ofits movement one of the pistons 9 and 10 assumes a osition adjacent thecenter of its cylinder, while the other piston assumes a position. closeto its cylinder-head 3. The other heads 11 and 12 of cylinders 1 and 2have arms 13 and 14, to which are connected guides 15 and 16. Across-head 17 is mounted on the guides 15 and is connected, by means ofa rod 18, with a piston 19 in cylinder 1. This rod 18 reciprocateswithin head 11 and is of such length that the piston 19 assumes aposition adjacent the center of cylinder 1 or near the head 11 when thecross-head 17 reaches the limit of its movement. Side strips 20 areconnected to cross-head 17 and extend longitudinally along oppositesides of. cylinders 1 and 2 and are connected to another crosshead 21,mounted on the guides 16. Arod 22 extends from the cross-head 21 andthrough head 12 and is secured to a piston 23, disposed in cylinder 2.In view of the fact that the cross-heads 17 and 21 are connected bystrips 20 the two pistons 19 and 23 are moved in unison, and these areso disposed in relation to each other that when piston 19 is adjacentthe center of cylinder 1 piston 23 is located close to head 12, and viceversa.

The main rod 2 1, which is connected to the wrist-pins of thedrive-wheels 25, is connected by a link 26 with one end of acentrally-fulcrumed lever 27, and the other end of this lever issecured, by means of a bar 28, to the cross-head 6. Another link 29 isconnected to lever 27 at the point where link 26 is secured thereto, andthis link 29 is pivoted to the cross-head 17. It will therefore be seenthat when the lever 27 is swung upon its fulcrum the cross-head 6 willbe moved in a direction opposite to that of cross-heads 17 and 21, andtherefore the pistons connected to said cross-heads will becorrespondingly moved. Steam-chests 30 and 31 are located on thecylinders 1 and 2, respectively, and each is connected by a port 32 withthe center of its cylinder. is formed in each cylinder and is adapted tobe placed in communication with port 32 by means of a slide-valve 34,having a passage 35 therein. This slide -'valve always extends over theexhaust-port; but when it is in one of its positions the steam is freeto enter from the steam-chest through port 32, and when it is in itsother position the steam can exhaust through port 32 into passage 35 andthe exhaust-port 33. The valves 34 in the two steam-chests areconnected, and any suitable mechanism (not disclosed) .may be providedfor actuating these valves chest 30.

Steam upon entering the cylinder 2 through its port 32 will force thepistons 10 and 32 away from each other, and therefore cross-head 6 willbe pushed in one direction, while cross-heads 21 and 17 will be moved inthe opposite direction because of the connection 20 between them. Ascross-head 17 is connected, by link 29, to one end of lever 27 and theother end of said lever is connected, by means of bar 28, withcross-head 6, power will be applied to both ends of'said lever and themain rod 24 will be moved longitudinally, so as to cause the rotation ofthe drive-wheels. As soon as the pistons 10 and 23 reach the limit oftheir An exhaust-port 33 rotation of the drive-wheels. During theoperation of the pistons air will circulate back and forth between themand the cylinder-heads through vents 37 and pipes 38 and 41. If in theevent of an emergency it is desirable to direct steam between thepistons and the cylinder-heads, this can be done by turning valve 42 soas to place pipe 40 into communication with pipe 38.

It will be understood that considerable power may be produced byemploying the ar rangement of cylinders and pistons herein described,and therefore the apparatus is designed equally as well for use uponfreight or passenger engines.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an engine the combination with a cylinder having acentrally-disposed inlet; of oppositely-movable pistons at oppositesides of the inlet, a power-transmitting lever, pivoted connectionsbetween the ends of said lever and the respective pistons, connectedtubular vents at the ends of the cyl inder, and means for directingmotive fluid through the inlet and through the vents.

2. In an engine the combination with a cylinder having tubular vents atthe ends thereof and an inlet, and a valve controlling said vents; ofoppositely-movable pistons within the cylinder at opposite sides of theinlet, means for directing motive fluid through the inlet and forexhausting it therefrom, a centrally-fulcrumed power-transmitting lever,and pivoted connections between the ends of the lever and the respectivepistons.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES NEWTIN CUMMINGS.

Witnesses:

H. D. MALLIOOAT, O. J. EsPY.

